MSU junior defensive end/tackle Malik McDowell will forgo his senior season and declare for the NFL Draft. The news of McDowell’s declaration was first broken by 247sports’ Sean Scherer. Scherer also said NFL has received Standard Representation Agreement paperwork from McDowell.
McDowell was a preseason All-American entering this year and finished the season with 34 tackles, seven for loss and 1.5 sacks. He was also named to preseason watch lists for the Bednarik Award for college defensive player of the year, Nagurski Trophy for defensive player of the year and Outland Trophy for interior lineman of the year. McDowell was a second-team All-Big Ten selection in 2016 despite missing the final three games with injury and the first half of MSU’s game with BYU with suspension.
McDowell, a Detroit native and graduate of Southfield High School, came to MSU as one of the best recruits in the state and country. McDowell, standing at 6-foot-7 and weighing 275 pounds, chose the Spartans over Ohio State University among others. McDowell recorded his best game of 2016 in the homecoming contest against Northwestern, when he had 11 tackles, two for loss and a half-sack.
He finishes his Spartan career with 90 tackles, 24.5 for loss and 7.5 sacks. He also recorded one interception in his career, which he returned for a touchdown in the regular season finale against Penn State in 2015. He was a second-team All-Big Ten selection in 2015 and finished second on the team in tackles for loss and third in sacks that year.
McDowell is listed as either a first or second round pick in most early NFL mock drafts. He will have opportunities at MSU’s Pro Day and the NFL Combine to impress scouts and improve his stock.
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